Approaches for Extractive Hydrometallurgy of Niobium and Tantalum from Ethiopian Kenticha Ores

Abstract

A Review Approaches for Extractive hydrometallurgy of niobium and tantalum from Ethiopian Kenticha Ores The Kenticha rare-element pegmatite, a globally important tantalite source in the Neoproterozoic of southern Ethiopia, is a highly fractionated, huge, subhorizontal, sheet-like body, discordantly emplaced in ultramafic host rock. It corresponds to the spodumene subtype of the rare element pegmatite class and belongs to the lithium–cesium–tantalum petrogenetic family. The Kenticha pegmatite is asymmetrically zoned from bottom to top into granitic lower zone, spodumene-free intermediate zone, and spodumene-bearing upper zone. The Kenticha pegmatite is rich in Ta-mineralized rare-element pegmatites. Thus, need to conduct research in enrichment of Ta2O5 and Nb2O5 and extraction of Nb and Ta into metallic form. This paper reviews the successful extraction of Nb and Ta from tanatlite ores. Its success normally depends on the physiochemical properties of the ore, choice of leaching extraction solvent. Currently, HF and methyl-isobutyl Ketone has been used for decomposition and separation of Nb and Ta from tantalite ore. Therefore Kenticha atantalite ore containe vaiaty compositions of elements and higher concentration of Li and U. Thus needs further investigation in extraction process in the sence of removing the use of HF for leaching and replacement of traditional organic solvents by “Green Solvents”. This review gives directions for future development of extraction of Kenticha tantalite ore. Keywords: Kenticha; leaching; magnetic separation; pegmatite, rare-element; solvent extraction, sopdumene; tantalite.